Floribunda rose plant named &#39;Meirysett&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant is provided which forms in abundance attractive blossoms that are deep greyed-purple on the upper surface and ocher yellow on the under surface. Such flower coloration is considered to be rather unusual. The greyed-purple petal coloration on the upper surface is so dark that it sometimes appears to be almost black upon casual observation. The plant exhibits strong vegetation, a semi-erect growth habit, and dark green foliage with a glossy upper surface. The disease tolerance is good particularly with respect to Oidium. The new variety is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meirysett

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was a productof the cross of the ‘Mme A. Meilland’ variety (non-patented in theUnited States) and the ‘Meipsilon’ variety (non-patented in the UnitedStates). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Delepi’variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Mme A. Meilland’variety sometimes is known as the ‘Climbing Peace’ variety. The‘Meipsilon’ variety is marketed under the YAKIMOUR trademark, and the‘Delepi’ variety is marketed under the EPIDOR trademark. The parentageof the new variety can be summarized as follows:

(‘Mme A. Meilland’×‘Meipsilon’)×‘Delepi’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a semi-erect growth habit,    -   (b) abundantly forms attractive blossoms that are deep        greyed-purple on the upper surface and ocher yellow on the under        surface,    -   (c) forms attractive dark green foliage that is glossy on the        upper surface,    -   (d) displays good tolerance to disease, and    -   (e) is well suited for growing as ornamentation in parks and        gardens.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in the landscape where attractiveornamentation is desired. The flower coloration is considered to berather unusual. The greyed-purple petal coloration on the upper surfaceis so dark that is sometimes appears to be almost black upon casualinspection.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the blossoms of the ‘Mme A. Meilland’ variety are goldenyellow edged with rose pink. The ‘Meipsilon’ variety forms cherry-redblossoms with a pale yellow reverse. The ‘Delepi’ variety forms deepyellow blossoms.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques inFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stableand are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexualpropagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meirysett’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observedduring October while budded on Rosa laxa understock and growing outdoorsat Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters areindicated at the bottom of the photograph together with comparativecolor information.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart), London, England. Commoncolor terms are to be accorded their customary dictionary significance.The description is based on the observation of two-year-old plantsduring May while budded on Rosa laxa understock and outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—semi-erect.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Green Group 143A. — adult wood:            near Green Group 143B.        -   Thorns.—on young stems: — small prickles: commonly absent. —            long prickles: configuration: very elongated and            longish-pointed on the upper surface, hooked on the under            surface, and with a broad ovate and long base. quantity:            approximately 9 on average on a stem length of 10 cm.            length: approximately 1 cm on average. color: near            Greyed-Orange Group 164C. — on adult stems: — small            prickles: commonly absent. — long prickles: configuration:            very elongated and very longish-pointed on the upper            surface, hooked on the under surface, and with a broad,            ovate and long base. quantity: approximately 14 on average            on a stem length of 18 cm. length: approximately 1 cm on            average. color: near Greyed-Orange Group 164C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, and rather broad, approximately            1.7 cm in length on average, approximately 0.5 cm in width            on average, near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146A on the under            surface.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Greyed-Purple Group 183A in            coloration. — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 152A in            coloration. — texture: non-glandular and commonly without            prickles. — length: approximately 2.8 cm for the terminal            leaflet.        -   Rachis.—upper surface: near Greyed-Purple Group 183A in            coloration. — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 152A in            coloration. — texture: generally smooth.        -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape:            generally oval with a rounded base and an acuminate tip. —            size: the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 5 cm            in length on average, and approximately 3 cm in width on            average. — serration: small and single (as illustrated). —            texture: somewhat thick and glossy on the upper surface. —            general appearance: rather dense. — color (young foliage):            upper surface: near Green Group 139A. under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 146B. — color (adult foliage): upper            surface: near Green Group 135A. under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 147B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly one flower per stem.        -   Peduncle.—glandular, near Yellow-Green Group 146C and more            or less suffused with near Greyed-Orange Group 176A in            coloration, approximately 4.3 cm in length on average, and            approximately 0.3 cm in diameter on average.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose and near Green Group 138B            in coloration. — under surface: smooth and near Yellow-Green            Group 143A in coloration. — configuration: approximately 3.4            cm in length on average, approximately 1 cm in width on            average at the widest point, and longish and narrow with an            upright base.        -   Bud.—shape: elongated. — size: medium. — length:            approximately 2 cm on average. — width: approximately 1.8 cm            on average at the widest point. — color: upper surface: near            Greyed-Purple Group 183A as the calyx breaks. under surface:            near Orange-Red Group 31C as the calyx breaks.        -   Flower.—shape: flat cup-shaped. — diameter: approximately            9.5 cm on average when fully open. — color (in the course of            opening): upper surface: near Greyed-Purple Group 185A.            under surface: near Yellow-Orange Group 22B suffused with            Orange-Red Group 31C. — color (when fully open): upper            surface: near Greyed-Purple Group 185B. under surface: near            Yellow-Orange Group 16B suffused with Orange-Red Group 31C.            — fragrance: none. — petal number: commonly approximately 37            to 40 on average under normal growing conditions. — petal            shape: generally with a rounded tip and a somewhat pointed            base. — petal size: commonly approximately 3.7 cm in length            on average, and approximately 3.3 cm in width on average. —            petal texture: flexible. — petal arrangement: imbricated,            and without petaloids. — petal drop: good with the petals            commonly detaching cleanly before drying. — stamen number:            approximately 138 on average. — anthers: regularly arranged            around the styles, approximately 0.3 cm in size on average,            and near Yellow-Orange Group 20A in coloration. — pollen:            present. — filaments: approximately 1 cm in length on            average, and near Red Group 40A in coloration. — pistils:            approximately 89 on average. — stigmas: approximately 0.2 cm            in size on average, and near Yellow Group 12C in coloration.            — styles: approximately 0.6 cm in length on average, and            near Yellow Group 4D in coloration. — receptacle: smooth,            pitcher-shaped in longitudinal section, approximately 0.8 cm            in length on average, approximately 0.9 cm in width on            average at the widest point, and near Yellow-Green Group            146A and more or less suffused with Greyed-Orange Group 176A            in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—strong.        -   Blooming.—medium season, very abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—good, particularly with respect to            Oidium.

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a semi-erectgrowth habit, (b) abundantly forms attractive blossoms that are deepgreyed-purple on the upper surface and ocher yellow on the undersurface, (c) forms attractive dark green foliage that is glossy on theupper surface, (d) displays excellent tolerance to disease, and (e) iswell suited for growing as ornamentation in parks and gardens;substantially as herein shown and described.